Remote control system having full-function and abbreviated-function remote control units

ABSTRACT

A remote control system includes a first remote control unit having complete functional capabilities and a second remote control unit having simplified and abbreviated functional capabilities. An apparatus is controlled in a detailed manner by the first remote control unit. For example, the operational mode and timer settings are set by the first remote control unit. On the other hand, the second remote control unit is limited to activating and deactivating the apparatus and/or the timer of the apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

This is a Continuation of Ser. No. 08/041,892, filed Apr. 2, 1993 andnow U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,382, which in turn was a Continuation of Ser.No. 07/505,655, filed Apr. 6, 1990 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The wireless remote control device is now used to control variouselectric appliances including air conditioners and audio-visualequipment. However, the various operating functions of the device havebecome more complicated in recent years, causing difficulties for theuser in handling the device.

The present invention relates to a remote control system which isdesigned to permit convenient operation of an apparatus using aplurality of remote control devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

It has been a conventional practice to provide every one appliance orapparatus with one remote control device. In recent years, however, ithas become known to provide a single apparatus with both a remotecontrol device with full functional capabilities and a remote controldevice with only simplified and abbreviated functional capabilities.

In accordance with the development of sophisticated remote controlfunctions, it has also become known to indicate and set the operatingstate of the apparatus using a remote control device. In the case whereplural such remote control devices are provided for an apparatus, anindication by each remote control device may sometimes be different fromthe operating state of the apparatus itself. To avoid such inconveniencein such a situation, therefore, efforts have been given up to indicatethe operating state of the apparatus using plural remote controldevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to providea remote control system, achieving a fully-fitted remote control withfull functions able to indicate the operating state of an apparatus,with improving the convenience in handling thereof.

In accomplishing the above-described object, according to the presentinvention, a remote control device is provided with a first remotecontrol transmitter which consists of a setting means for setting theapparatus operation content, an ON/OFF means and a transmitting means, asecond remote control transmitter which consists of an ON/OFF means anda transmitting means, and a receiver means.

The receiver means is connected with a signal reading means, aninstructing means and a memory means. The memory means stores theapparatus operation content determined by the setting means andtransmitted from the first remote control transmitter. When the memorymeans receives an operation instruction from the ON/OFF means andtransmitting means of the second remote control transmitter, the memorymeans starts to operate the apparatus based on the operation contentstored therein.

Prior to the end of operation by the first remote control transmitter, aspecific initial value is set and stored in the memory means.

According to the present invention, a signal transmitted by thetransmitting means of the first remote control transmitter is differentfrom a signal transmitted by the transmitting means of the second remotecontrol transmitter.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the remote control deviceis comprised of a first remote control transmitter which consists of atimer content setting means, a timer ON/OFF means and a transmittingmeans, a second remote control transmitter which consists of a timerON/OFF means and a transmitting means, and a receiver means.

The receiver means is connected to a signal reading means, an operationinstructing means and a memory means. The memory means stores thecontent of a timer set by the setting means and transmitted from thefirst remote control transmitter. When the memory means receives aninstruction for setting the timer from the timer ON/OFF means of thesecond remote control transmitter, the memory means sets the timer basedon the content stored therein.

The receiver means and signal reading means are connected to a soundgenerating means. When a signal from the transmitting means of the firstremote control transmitter and second remote control transmitter isreceived, the sound generating means generates a signal sound. On theother hand, when a timer setting signal is received from the timerON/OFF means and transmitting means of the second remote controltransmitter before the end of setting of the timer by the first remotecontrol transmitter, the sound generating means generates a specifieddifferent signal sound.

Signals transmitted from the transmitting means of the first remotecontrol transmitter are different from signals transmitted from thetransmitting means of the second remote control transmitter.

Furthermore, the first remote control transmitter is provided at leastwith a setting means for setting the operation content, an ON/OFF means,a timer content setting means, a timer ON/OFF means and a transmittingmeans. At the same time, the second remote control transmitter isprovided at least with an ON/OFF means, a timer ON/OFF means and atransmitting means.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the operating state of theapparatus and that of the timer can be set in a detailed manner inadvance using the first remote control transmitter which is completelyequipped with full functional capabilities. On the other hand, most ofthe general ON/OFF control of the apparatus and timer is effected usingthe second remote control transmitter which has abbreviated functionalcapabilities. Therefore, even a highly-sophisticated apparatus can behandled in a simpler manner.

DRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in conjunction withone preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanydrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1(a)-1(c) are block diagrams showing the structure of a remotecontrol device according to one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are front elevational views of the remote controldevice:

FIGS. 3(b) and 3(b) are structural views of transmitting data foractivating and stopping of an apparatus using the remote control device,respectively; and

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are structural views of transmitting data forreservation and cancellation of a timer using the remote control device,respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to benoted here that like parts are designated by like reference numeralsthroughout the accompanying drawings.

A remote control device according to one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS.1-4.

An air conditioner apparatus is given as an example to explain theoperation of the remote control device.

The structure of the remote control device is shown by a block diagramof FIG. 1.

In order to activate and stop the operation of an equipment, a firstremote control transmitter of FIG. 1(a) is provided with a running modesetting means 1 which sets the running mode of the equipment, i.e.,cooling or heating, temperature, wind velocity, etc., an ON/OFF means 2for instructing the apparatus to operate or stop operating, and atransmitting means 3. A second remote control transmitter shown in FIG.1(b) is provided with an ON/OFF means 4 and a transmitting means 5.Specifically, the first remote control transmitter transmits signalsincluding detailed instructions for operation of the apparatus, whilethe second remote control transmitter transmits signals only to stop oractivate the apparatus operation.

For operating the apparatus using a timer, the first remote controltransmitter further includes a timer content setting means 6 whichselectively turns on and off the timer and sets an operating time, i.e.,start and completion times of the timer, a timer ON/OFF means 7 forsetting or releasing the timer, and the transmitting means 3. The secondremote control transmitter further includes a timer ON/OFF means 8 andthe transmitting means 5 in order to operate the apparatus using thetimer. The first remote control transmitter transmits signals to causeor cancel the timer controlled apparatus operation, including settingthe operating time of the apparatus. On the other hand, the secondremote control transmitter only transmits signals to cause or cancel thetimer controlled apparatus operation.

FIG. 1(c) shows a block diagram of a receiver. Signals from thetransmitting means 3 and 5 of the first and second remote controltransmitters are received by a receiver means 9 and then read by areceiving signal reading means 10. At this time, a sound generatingmeans 11 generates a signal sound. Moreover, after the receiving signalis read by the reading means 10, it is sent to an instructing means 12which, if the receiving signal is from the first remote controltransmitter, consequently instructs the apparatus to operate inconformity with the content of the signal, and which stores in a memorymeans 13 the operation content. If the receiving signal is from thesecond remote control transmitter, the instructing means 12 retrievesthe stored operation content from the memory means 13, and operates theapparatus in accordance with the stored operation content.

In the case where the receiving signal from the second remote controltransmitter is an operation instruction, the apparatus will operate inaccordance with the content stored in the memory means 13. However, ifthe apparatus has not completed the operation initiated by the firstremote control transmitter, a specified initial value is stored inadvance in the memory means 13 based on which the apparatus is operated.After the operation by the first remote control transmitter iscompleted, the initial value set in the memory means 13 is rewritten.

In the case where the receiving signal from the second remote controltransmitter is a timer setting instruction, the apparatus operation isset with a timer value stored in the memory means 13. However, if theapparatus has not yet completed the operation set by the first remotecontrol transmitter, it is unable to set the apparatus operation withthe timer value, whereby a particular alarm is generated instead fromthe sound generating means.

FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of a remote control deviceaccording to the one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2(a)showing the first remote control transmitter and FIG. 2(b) showing thesecond remote control transmitter. The first remote control transmitteris provided with manipulation keys 14 related to the operation contentof the apparatus, that is, the operating mode of the equipment such asheating or cooling, temperature, wind velocity and the like, andmanipulation keys 15 related to the timer, specifically, start, stop,time, minute, reservation and cancellation of the timer. In addition, anindicating means 16 is provided to indicate the operation content setfor the apparatus, so that the user can operate the apparatus and setthe timer correctly through consultation of the indication means 16. Theindicating means 16 may be a liquid crystal display.

When the first remote control transmitter transmits data in accordancewith the set indicated content, it transmits a plurality of both datarelated to the apparatus and data related to the timer as they are setat one time in order that an indication by the remote control device iscoincident with the running content of the equipment.

The second remote control transmitter is provided with a key 17 which isused to start or stop the apparatus operation, or to operate the timer,etc. for transmitting fixed data.

The second remote control transmitter may be equipped with an additionalfunction using, for example, a sleep key.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of transmitting data for activating andstopping the apparatus operation using the remote control deviceaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3(a) exemplifies a transmitting data from the transmitting means ofthe first remote control transmitter, which is composed of a run/stopdata 18, a running mode data 19, a temperature setting data 20 and awind velocity setting data 21. The running mode data 19, temperaturesetting data 20 and wind velocity setting data 21 are respectively apreset data showing one value. The run/stop data 18 is a fixed reversingdata for causing the receiver to operate or stop upon each receptionthereof. Since many remote control devices are used in the apparatus, itis impossible for the remote control devices to determine whether theapparatus operates or stops if the run/stop data is not a reversingdata. Accordingly, the first remote control transmitter transmits allthe data both for operating the apparatus and for stopping theapparatus.

FIG. 3(b) is a transmitting data from the second remote controltransmitter which is a reversing data. The structure of the data issimplified because the data is composed only of a run/stop data 22.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of transmitting data for reservation orcancellation of the timer in the remote control device according to theone preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4(a) is one example of a transmitting data from the transmittingmeans of the first remote control transmitter. The data is composed of areserving/canceling data 23, a timer setting data 24 and a setting timedata 25 when the timer is to be turned ON, a reserving/canceling data26, a timer stopping data 27 and a stopping time data 28 when the timeris to be turned OFF. All of the transmitting data are preset datarespectively showing one set value.

FIG. 4(b) is a transmitting data from the second remote controltransmitter which is a reversing data. The structure of the data issimplified since the data is composed of a timer setting/resetting data29 only.

As is made clear from the foregoing description, according to thepresent invention, since the remote control device is formed of acombination of the first remote control transmitter which can set theapparatus operation and timer in a detailed manner and the second remotecontrol transmitter which is able to read the memory stored within theapparatus, it becomes possible to handle even a highly-advancedapparatus with ease.

Further, since the initial value is set in advance, the apparatus canstart running smoothly using the second remote control transmitter evenat the early conduction stage thereof.

Although the timer cannot be set with an initial value, an alarm soundis arranged to be generated before the end of operation set by the firstremote control transmitter, thereby avoiding a mistake of the user.

The transmitting data of the second remote control transmitter can beremarkably simplified.

Moreover, either or both of the first and second remote controltransmitters can be equipped with minimum functional capabilities.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofexample, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications areapparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, such changes andmodifications should be construed as included within the scope of theinvention unless they depart therefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote control system for controlling theoperation of an apparatus, comprising:a full-function remote controlunit including a timer content setting means for setting timingparameters of a timer which is associated with the apparatus and whichcontrols the operation of the apparatus in accordance with set timingparameters when the timer is activated, a first timer ON/OFF means foractivating and deactivating the timer associated with the apparatus, anda first transmitting means for transmitting a first remote controlsignal in accordance with said timer content setting means and saidfirst timer ON/OFF means; an abbreviated-function remote control unitincluding a second timer ON/OFF means for activating and deactivatingthe timer associated with the apparatus, and a second transmitting meansfor transmitting a second remote control signal in accordance with saidfirst timer ON/OFF means, and being devoid of a timer content settingmeans for setting the timing parameters of the timer associated with theapparatus; and, a receiver means for receiving said first and secondremote control signals from said full-function remote control unit andsaid abbreviated-function remote control unit, respectively, and forcontrolling the timer associated with the apparatus in accordance withsaid first and second remote control signals to thereby control theoperation of the apparatus.
 2. A remote control system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said receiver means includes:a received signal readingmeans for reading a data content contained in said first and secondremote control signals; a memory means for storing data, which has beenread by said received signal reading means, contained in said firstremote control signal denoting said set timing parameters of the timerassociated with the apparatus; and operation instruction means forcontrolling the timer associated with the apparatus in accordance withsaid data content contained in said first and second remote controlsignals and read by said received signal reading means, wherein saidoperation instruction means controls the timer based on said datadenoting said set timing parameters stored in said memory means whensaid second remote control signal is received and contains data denotingactivation of the timer.
 3. A remote control system as recited in claim1, wherein said receiver means includes:a received signal reading meansfor reading a data content contained in said first and second remotecontrol signals; and, a sound generating means for generating a firstaudible sound when at least one of said first and second remote controlsignals is received, and for generating a second audible sound which isaudibly distinguishable from said first audible sound when said secondremote control signal is received and contains data denoting activationof the timer prior to the expiration of a time period established by thedata content of a previously received first remote control signal bywhich the timer is already activated.
 4. A remote control system asrecited in claim 1, wherein a data format of said first remote controlsignal is different than a data format of said second remote controlsignal.
 5. A remote control system as recited in claim 2, wherein a dataformat of said first remote control signal is different than a dataformat of said second remote control signal.
 6. A remote control systemas recited in claim 3, wherein a data format of said first remotecontrol signal is different than a data format of said second remotecontrol signal.